Bombulie had the update today, if you want to call it that. Too soon to speculate, but when have you ever heard a guy leave practice with the trainer then be back the next day as good as new? It just doesn’t happen.

With the unknown status of Killeen, this leaves Brad Thiessen as the lone healthy goaltender in the Penguins organization eligible to play.

Bombulie mentioned in his update that a reader had mentioned to him the possibility of bringing ex-PIT backup Brent Johnson in on a PTO. Apparently Johnson is working out in Pittsburgh with the rest of the locked-out players. What would it take to drive 300 miles East and help out the farm a bit? It makes too much sense, really, and that’s why I would be shocked that it come to fruition.

The ailments / injuries could not come at a more inopportune time for the Pens, who are about to embark in an eight game in twenty day journey, with seven of those eight against divisional opponents and looking more long term nine of ten against East Division foes. Albany Wednesday is the only non-divisional game on the Penguins immediate matrix.

I’ll think worst case here: Zatkoff is out a while. Brent Johnson doesn’t come in on a PTO. The Pens sign some unknown kid. Let’s benchmark Wednesday, Pens are three points out of the division lead and tied for second with Binghamton. Where oh where will the Pens be at the end of this ten game slog? Time (and good goal tending) will tell.

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There are a few other things I want to briefly touch on:

–> Here’s my other game story I wrote for the Maine Hockey Journal on Saturday night. Can’t thank Chris Roy enough for the opportunity to serve.

–> More AHL games were added to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio with the axing of more NHL games thru December 30. The Penguins aren’t featured in any games other than the one already scheduled for this Friday vs. Binghamton.

–> From the ex-Penguin alumni file: Colby Armstrong signed an ECHL deal with the Utah Grizzlies and Chris Collins signed on with the Springfield Falcons.

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If anything breaks on news regarding Penguins / Nailers back stoppers, either in the form of new signings or health status updates, I will have retweets in some from from Mssrs. Bombulie / Rine on Twitter then probably a blurb here on the blog. If not, next update will probably run Wednesday at 3 for the Albany Gameday setup.